Technical Note

My analyses are based on composite charts that combine data for the New and Full Moons of each month.

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Hello,

I have set up a public Facebook page for those who want to follow my current astrology updates. As far as I can tell, this page is totally public and requires only the absolute minimum of involvements with Facebook. Here is the link: http://on.fb.me/1n0CM4J

Saturday, May 31, 2014

June’s chart is one more in a series of charts that look conflicted, confusing and challenging on the surface. But again, as in several recent months, the tensions from difficult, obstructing squares are channeled into the constructive, supportive trines and sextiles of a Kite. These more constructive aspects are clearly visible beneath the tangle of conflicting aspects.

These charts support deep, complex, persistent and sustained interactions that lead to legitimate, carefully crafted solutions.

The squares are challenging and will produce difficulties. But these difficulties mask, or distract from, strong constructive trends. Finally, June's chart will produce a myriad of important changes. But most of us will experience it first and foremost through our relationships - as significantly altering the dynamic of our relationships - all of them.

A Test of the New Paradigm in June

In so many words, what I have been calling a New Paradigm is at work again in June.

Mid-June will bring a period of heightened challenges that will apply pressure to all ongoing issues. However, the positive and supportive aspects will also be strong, providing options and smoothing our path through the increased difficulties.

Some will doubtless declare defeat and prepare for the worst. Others will see the continuing opportunities and work through to the challenges.

The Good the Bad and the Scary

The New Paradigm puts out mixed signals and produces seemingly contradictory effects. Signs of progress are heavily mixed with worrisome and discouraging signs. We are seeing a great deal of that now.

For example, economic conditions are difficult. Much of the economic debate is strident and confrontational. However, the economy continues to defy gloomy predictions.

Many seem willing to let the poor suffer. But at the same time, there is a thriving movement afoot to raise the minimum wage appreciably.

There is staunch resistance to same sex marriage across the United States, yet same sex marriage bans have been struck down repeatedly.

Seemingly implacable resistance to Obamacare continues, but people are enrolling in affordable insurance plans made possible by Obamacare in larger numbers than anticipated.

News from the Ukraine is similarly mixed. Democratic elections succeed. Violent, worrisome clashes between Ukrainian and separatist forces continue. The Ukraine continues to not erupt in bloody civil war.

Cutting Us Some Slack

The aspects in June are not particularly exact. There are also a fair number of important retrogrades in June. All things considered, we can expect a little helpful slack in June. We needn’t fear being overtaken or pushed into a corner by the difficulties we encounter.

This slack will further mitigate the effects of the difficult aspects.

The Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is in June, too. Appropriately, June’s chart sums up trends familiar from recent months, sets the course for the future, and takes progress a step further on all fronts.

T-Square + Kite = New Paradigm

In recent months, we have seen charts that suggest a new paradigm. Difficult aspects are fused with supportive, protective aspects that prevent those harsh confrontations that lead to forced, unsatisfactory compromises.

Accordingly, the key aspects in June’s chart are a matrix of squares linked to a T-square and the T-Square is grounded in a Kite. Effectively, all the tensions from all the squares feed first into the T-Square and then into the Kite.

This T-Square - A 3-Way Power Struggle

The T-Square includes Mars in Libra in the 4th, Pluto retrograde in Capricorn in the 6th and Uranus in Aries in the 10th.The conflicts set up by the T-Square tend to be stark, hard-edged, and winner-take-all.

Heads of households (Mars in Libra in the 4th) will be trying to advance or proactively defend the interests of their famiies. Frontline supervisors (Pluto retrograde in the 6th) will exert their power in the workplace, trying to fill their quotas, ignoring the claims of workers and their families. People in the front office (Uranus in Aries in the 10th) will try to push through system wide changes that serve their interests, ignoring the needs of supervisory personnel and frontline staff.

Essentially, the authority figures in our lives will be competing for control of our loyalty and our living and working conditions as they pursue conflicting agendas. Pressed from all sides, it will be hard to know where to turn.

The Kite - Saner Heads Prevail

The sextiles and trines of the Kite join Saturn in Scorpio in the 4th, Pluto retrograde in Capricorn in the 6th, Chiron in Pisces in the 9th and Jupiter in Cancer in the 12th.As the T-Square feeds its tensions into the Kite, seemingly stark, unresolvable issues. These issues will be broadened, hard edges will be softened and debate will become more subtle and inclusive. June’s Kite will bring a philosophical, psychological, spiritual perspecitves to bear on stark economic issues. As for the power struggle, so many different people will have a voice in the debate that power will end up being. But June's chart promises more than a lessening of confrontation and a broad sharing of power and responsibility.

Transformations in the Collective Unconscious

The planets have been widening and deepening the scope of public discourse, making it more inclusive and subtle. But the planets have also been transforming individual psychology, spirituality and relationships. Two stelliums in June’s chart take the latter process a giant step further. The first of these stelliums brings transformative changes on the level of individual psychology, spirituality and lifestyle. The second stellium promises related changes on the collective, group level.It is important to understand that both stelliums will influence the broader public debate.

Stellium #1 is anchored by Mars and Mars forms one of the angles in the T-Square. (See illustration.)

Stellium # 2 is in Sagittarius. Note that Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter and Jupiter occupies the apex of the Kite. These stelliums are also in semi-sextile relations. The two stelliums will interact with each other harmoniously and synergistically and influence the course of the larger global debate.

Stellium #1- Personal Transformation.

Stellium #1 - Mars, Vesta, Ceres, the Part of Fortune and the North Node are all in Libra in the 4th house.

Vesta is closely conjunct Ceres; the Part of Fortune is closely conjunct the North Node.

Mars - brings initiative and passion.

Vesta - contributes deep devotion to an ideal or principle. Ceres - contributes a nurturing and caregiving impulse.ThePart of Fortune - indicates that we will be recognized and rewarded for giving expression to the influence of this stellium. North Node - indicates rectitude, and alignment with spiritual evolutionary purpose. Libra - Justice, fairness, beauty, partnership.4th house - Family, deep psychology.Saturn - Discipline, sobriety, respect, and so on, an ability to live within limitations.In sum, on an individual by individual basis, people are highly motivated to realign their lives with moral and spiritual principles and their higher purpose, to nurture and strengthen their character, and to deepen and enrich their personalities. This stellium will powerfully motivate people to speak and live their truth. It will move them to fight, or at least to speak up for conditions that will allow them to do so. This stellium will bring individuals a clearer sense of who they are and what they want and need. Our inner changes will foster new expectations about how we want to be treated. We will expect others to fulfill our changed expectations. Others will be experiencing similar transformations and we will have to accommodate their changed expectations in return.The psychological, spiritual and behavioral transformations will ripple through our ideas and emotions and on out, through our relationships and into our lives.

Stellium #2 - Transformations in Global Culture

Quaoar, Chariklo, Pholus, and Ixion, are all retrograde. All are close together in Sagittarius in the 5th house. The Vertex is nearby in Sagittarius in the 5th house.

Quaoar, Chariklo, Pholus and Ixion represent the archetypal principles that help us maintain our moral and spiritual identity as members of a group and constantly experiencing group pressures. These centaurs govern the principles of group interaction - ethics, morality, etiquette, etc., that reside in our collective unconscious. Quaoar governs our ability to break out of old social forms and cultural patterning. It allows us to challenge or override existing patterns.

Pholus governs our ability to observe ethical standards even when under pressure from peers.

Ixion governs our commitment to properly discharge the obligations of public office - to not abuse our power or position.

The Vertex brings about fateful, potentially life altering meetings that realign us with our higher purposes.The fifth house is all about friendship, romance and day-to-day social relationships.

Sagittarius governs philosophical and spiritual thinking.

All of the asteroids (Quaoar, Chariklo, Pholus and Ixion) are retrograde. Many of the rules of group interaction that reside in our collective unconscious can now be altered.

The personal psychological and spiritual transformations supported by the stellium in the 4th house will effect change in the rules that govern our collective, group interactions. I.e., social and cultural standards will change to accommodate transformations at the individual psychological and spiritual level.

The fact that June’s chart covers conditions at the summer solstice tells us that these transformations will continue into the future and they will be lasting.

In sum, the planets are enabling, motivating and assisting individuals to realign themselves with their soul purpose, or life mission at a profound level. These transformations, as they ripple through our shared lives, will affect public discourse and bring about lasting changes in global culture.

As noted, many of these themes are familiar. But June takes them all a step further. Most especially, June will show us that we have the power to change attitudes and behavior and to make these changes part of our culture going forward.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

April Recap - A New Paradigm?

In recent months, the charts have fostered deep and prolonged personal transformation. Public awareness has been deepened and refined; our assumptions about the world and its many issues, economic, political, social and cultural, foreign and domestic, have evolved significantly.

We are revisiting many issues, especially issues of political and economic fairness. A new worldview, distinct from the one we have held for so long, is clearly emerging.

April’s Kite is anchored in financial signs; it is organized around the financial axis of the chart. Accordingly, April's eclipses suggest a watershed moment in the struggle between the 1% and the 99%. The Grand Cross in Cardinal Signs suggests that the changes triggered by the eclipses will be unusually dramatic and decisive for our economic prospects, among other things.

Change is already well beyond the speculation and discussion stage. It is clear from the headlines about pot legalization, possible minimum wage increases, revisions in drug sentencing laws, unionization efforts, and so on, that societal attitudes are changing and so are public policies.

April’s Grand Cross in Cardinal Signs and its eclipses all bespeak decisive change. At some level in individual and collective awareness, we are prepping for another wave of change. This one deeper and more radical than the last.

With reference to the idea of a new paradigm, public discussion is in fact more inclusive. The old, partisan oversimplifications and half truths are gradually, grudgingly giving way to more complex, varied and factually accurate views. There are more perspectives from which to view issues and, increasingly.

The turmoil in Ukraine concerns many of us and I have taken the course of that conflict as a test case for the new paradigm. Will it proceed along the lines of the old paradigm, with a progressive hardening of positions and a series of provocations and mounting confrontations?

While still dangerous, and reminiscent of many other, similar, conflicts, it has not yet fallen into any of the old patterns and it is still not clear that it will, although that is still possible. Indeed, the depth and complexity of the relationship between Europe and Russia works against a reflexive, confrontational approach.

On Friday, April 24th, USA TODAY sent out a bulletin with a reference to Ukraine. It was entitled,: "Stocks slammed by specter of 'World War III'".

The old fears are still out there and they are not unjustified. Even if a new paradigm is taking hold in the world, it is not clear that its influence is strong enough or its reach deep enough, yet, to affect the Ukraine crisis. The effects of April’s chart might tell the tale.

May 2014

The Bad News

On the surface, May's chart looks like a forbidding tangle of squares, T-squares and quincunxes. April's eclipses are still resonating through events, too, darkening the outlook.

Worrisome things will doubtless take place; people will be forced to make tough choices under difficult circumstances. Crises will occur. Certain worrisome situations will worsen. We must consider, though, that many of the negative events might be the result of a negative dynamic that is now fading. They might mark the end of an era.

The Good NewsWe must be realistic about the power of these difficult aspects, and deal realistically with the dark events they will bring. But we must not let them obscure the strongly supportive elements in May's chart. Similarly, when interpreting world events, we must acknowledge the harsh realities, but not let them conceal from our view the reality of other, more promising developments.

A Kite . . .

Looking more closely at May's chart, we see a well-formed Kite and a Yod beneath all the harsh red lines.Pluto is retrograde in Capricorn in the 2nd; Neptune and Chiron are in Pisces in the 3rd and 4th, straddling the IC; Jupiter is in Cancer in the 9th; Saturn is retrograde in Scorpio in the 12th. All are linked harmoniously by the Kite’s system of trines and sextiles. The Kite provides dynamic balance, much the way a gyroscope does. It is self-correcting. The heavy, spinning wheel in its center keeps the gyroscope steady and provides stability, direction and guidance.

+ an Opposition . . .

Pluto is retrograde in Capricorn in the 2nd house of grassroots finances. It opposes Jupiter in Cancer in the 9th house of philosophy and ideology.

Pluto and Jupiter in somewhat broad opposition are troubling the financial axis of May's chart. However, the energy of the opposition drives a debate facilitated by the stabilizing, gyroscopic effects of the Kite with its integral system supportive, facilitating aspects.

The Pluto/Jupiter opposition linking the base and the apex of the Kite tells us that conflicts will boil down to an essentially philosophical or ideological argument over the economic rights of the 99%. They are waking to the economic and political imbalance and beginning to reclaim their economic power.

The issues triggered by the Jupiter/Pluto opposition still seem starkly economic and nakedly political - a zero sum, winner-take-all, tug-of-war. But this opposition and the many squares to which it is linked are embedded in a Kite, which draws off and channels its harsh energies:

Pluto anchors the Kite solidly in Capricorn in the 2nd house, the houses of grassroots economics. This is a very concrete, down-to-earth, realistic placement.

Neptune and Chiron in Pisces on the cusp of the 4th house bring inspiration and healing. This is a deeply spiritual and psychological placement. It floods our minds with spiritual and healing energies.

Jupiter is exalted in Cancer in the 9th house of philosophy and ideology. This is a deeply thoughtful, intuitive, high-minded placement with a focus on nurturance.

Saturn retrograding in Scorpio in the 12th house of spirituality gives the economic debate a spiritual moral dimension and foregrounds the need for personal discipline and integrity.

+ a Yod . . .

Uranus conjoined Venus in Aries in the 5th sextiles Mercury in Gemini in the 8th. Both placements are quincunx Saturn retrograde in Scorpio in the 12th. Together they form a Yod.

The Kite makes for a fast-moving, wide-ranging, inclusive debate. It also expands the range of concerns being addressed. It also forestalls polarization and encourages compromise and improvisation.

But the Kite can also have a homogenizing effect that could easily obscure or divert attention from key issues. The Yod will reliably counteract this homogenizing tendency.

The Yod provides a separate, distinct energetic focus. It will ensure that certain very specific and important issues will not get lost in the shuffle, bargained away in the quest for compromise or the active search for workable alternatives.

The Yod will set up a kind of persistent, round robin debate over certain specific issues. In this way, it will maintain the integrity of these issues and keep them in the forefront. This particular Yod foregrounds the importance of moral and economic discipline. Economic fairness will not, for example, deteriorate into a drive for cradle to grave financial guarantees. Nor will it leave out the issue of personal responsibility and accountability.

Instead, May's Yod will keep us mindful of the need for individual tradeoffs and accommodations to help resolve larger economic issues fairly and realistically. This Yod foregrounds the need for shared sacrifice and possibly uncomfortable personal adjustments.

We will be willing to adjust our personal, and social lives (Uranus and Venus in Aries in the 5th) and our long-term financial plans (Mercury in the 8th) to find workable solutions. Saturn retrograde means that realism, fairness and common decency will influence the reshaping of our expectations.

This Yod is powerfully placed, too, tucked right into one of the Kite’s angles. It injects a concern for fairness and common sense into the the difficult and fateful proceedings.

= a New Paradigm?

On one level, May’s chart tosses an abundance of disruptive and divisive energies at us. At another level, it provides stabilizing, adaptive, supportive energies (the Kite) and an important additional focus (Yod) making sure that key issues are not glossed over.

The dynamic generated by this structure is hard to predict, control or distort. It’s inclusivity provides a multiplicity of voices that will act as an effective system of checks and balances. It has a progressive, conciliatory cast that would be very difficult to frustrate.

One also has to participate actively and earnestly on many fronts to have an influence on the outcome. A small, entrenched elite cannot rely on political inertia to preserve the status quo. Nor can a small army of lobbyists and paid political operatives counter the many facts and varied opinions flowing into the debate.May’s chart provides a robust alternative to polarization and confrontation. It is highly unlikely that we will allow a settlement that leaves the status quo in place on any count.

In the end, we are left wondering whether this constructive, transformative dynamic will become a permanent feature of our public life, and hoping that it will.

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Personal Readings No Longer Offered

I now there are probably a few people - not many, but a few, a handful - who are waiting for a reading. However, I have had to simply, completely and abruptly stop offering astrology readings.

I apologize. However, conditions in my life require that I lighten my workload considerably and immediately. I will continue to post my monthly astrology reports on Facebook with links posted on my Google+ account.